Germany Seeks Market Access
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel to bring in more investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and high technology while his interlocutor asked India to shed protectionism and open markets further.<More>

Tirpur Knitwear Exports at USD 1.7B
Knitwear mills in Tamil Nadu town Tirpur reported increase in exports of 33.3% valued at USD 1.7 billion to grab the number 1 spot from Punjab’s Ludhiana and is aiming to increase its output to USD 2.25 billion next year.<More>

Democracy,
Politics and Judiciary

PM Appoints Narmada Monitoring Panel
The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a three-member panel that will assess, monitor, and advise the Government on relief provided to those ousted by the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) across the Narmada River.
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Environment,
Health and Education

SC Orders Dismantling Fish Tanks in AP
The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Andhra Pradesh (AP) to destroy fish tanks created in the Kolleru Lake by politically connected individuals that threaten the ecosystem of the large wet lands and the livelihood of those who live around it.<More>

Terrorism,
Defense, Security and Science &
Technology

Eastern Naval Command Assuming Prominence
In line with the Indian Maritime Doctrine released last year, the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) based in Visakhapatanam has assumed great significance to protect the 2,600-kilometer coastline and 200,000 square kilometer exclusive economic zone.<More>

Russia to Strengthen C. Asia Presence
Russian President Vladimir Putin along with Kyrgyzstan President Kurmambek Bakiyev announced that Russia will increase its Air Force base force levels at Kant by 2.5 times in response to expansion of American base in Manas International Airport.<More>

Neighbors

China Reinforcing Developing Nations Ties
Analysts say that through Chinese President Hu Jintao visits to Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Nigeria, and Kenya right after his visit to the US on the same trip shows that China is interested to reaffirm its ties with the developing world despite its economic
ascendancy.
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The
Bill on National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme seeks to provide
guaranteed employment to one
member of every rural household
for at least 100 days a year for a
minimum wage of Rs.60 per day.
Out of 260 million poor people in
the country, about 200 million
poor people are in rural areas.
People in 45% rural India do not
get work for six months in a year.